The development of communism in Russia was heavily influenced by the ideas and actions of three men: Vladimir Lenin, Joseph Stalin, and Leon Trotsky. The complex personal and political tensions that existed between these three men guided the development of communism in Russia. Students will complete a timeline that highlights the actions of Lenin, Stalin, and Trotsky in a traditional storyboard. Create a blank template using the example storyboard above. The opening cell asks the essential question for this activity. Students must:
Extended Activity
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Student Instructions
Create a visual narrative timeline of the development of Communism in Russia.
Encourage students to research and discuss the positive and negative effects of Lenin, Stalin, and Trotsky on Russian society. This boosts critical thinking and helps students analyze historical perspectives.
Assign each team a leader (Lenin, Stalin, or Trotsky) or a specific viewpoint. This ensures equal participation and lets students focus their research on a single figure.
Explain debate rules, time limits, and respectful discussion expectations. Structure helps students stay on topic and improves engagement.
Remind students to reference events and actions from their timeline activity. This reinforces learning and teaches them to back up arguments with historical facts.
Ask students to share what they learned and how their opinions changed. Reflection promotes deeper understanding and encourages respectful dialogue.
A Lenin, Stalin, Trotsky cloze timeline activity is an educational exercise where students complete a visual timeline by filling in missing information about key events and actions involving these three Soviet leaders, helping them understand the development of communism in Russia.
To create a storyboard timeline for the development of communism in Russia, start by dividing the timeline into cells. In each cell, add a title describing a major event, a caption with more details, and an illustration showing the action. Focus on key actions by Lenin, Stalin, and Trotsky.
Key events to include are WWI's impact on Russia, Lenin's return, the Red vs. White Army Civil War, the rise of Stalin, Trotsky's exile, Stalin's industrial and agricultural plans, and the establishment of a totalitarian government.
Analyzing the relationships between Lenin, Stalin, and Trotsky helps students understand how personal and political rivalries influenced the direction of the Russian Revolution and the formation of the Soviet Union.
Engaging extension activities include creating storyboard analyses of Diego Rivera’s murals, investigating dystopian or totalitarian themes in literature and movies, or comparing other historical revolutions using graphic organizers.